The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains into Kingoro's room, gently brushing against his face. He was still fast asleep, his dreams filled with an intense longing to grow stronger. But his peace was interrupted when he felt a soft hand shake his shoulder.
"Kingoro, wake up," said a familiar voice.
It was his mother, coming to rouse him for the day.
Kingoro opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the morning light. "Mother…?" he murmured groggily, still half-asleep.
"We need to head to the arena," she said with a gentle smile. "Your training starts today."
Rubbing his eyes, Kingoro tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. But soon, a spark of anticipation lit up within him. Today would be different. He wouldn't stop striving to become stronger. He knew his chance had finally arrived.
As Kingoro made his way to the arena, his thoughts raced through his mind. This was a new beginning. Today would change everything. As he approached the grand doors of the training grounds, they slowly opened before him. But his gaze wasn't fixed on the arena itself.
In the center of the arena stood a woman. She was tall, exuding an aura of undeniable strength. Her hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and she wore a practical training outfit. But what truly captivated Kingoro was the overwhelming magical energy radiating from her. The air around her seemed to vibrate with sheer power.
"This is your new instructor," a voice behind Kingoro said. It was his mother, speaking in a more serious tone this time. "Her name is Asaka."
Kingoro stood still for a moment, awestruck by her presence. He had never met anyone with such raw power before. Her magical energy flowed like a torrent, as if she could command everything around her. He could feel it deep within his body, urging him to grow and evolve.
Noticing his gaze, Asaka gave a slight smile. But it wasn't a warm smile—it was the kind of smile that spoke of someone who had faced life's harshest trials. "Are you ready to begin?" she asked, her voice calm yet authoritative.
Kingoro took a deep breath, steadying himself as his emotions swirled between awe and determination. "Yes, I'm ready," he replied with newfound resolve.
The day passed quickly. Under Asaka's guidance, Kingoro trained harder than he ever had before. His body ached, his muscles burned, and breathing became difficult as time went on. But with every passing hour, something else grew within him—his determination.
By the time night began to fall, Kingoro was exhausted, barely able to keep his eyes open. Yet, in that one day, he had learned more than he ever had before.
Elsewhere in the palace, Lawrence stood in front of a large map, his face serious. Yurio and Hans stood beside him, listening intently.
"We leave the kingdom at the end of this month," Lawrence said with a firm voice. "We'll be dealing with B-rank monsters to develop your skills."
Yurio smiled, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Sounds fun!" he said, though his tone suggested he saw the challenge as nothing more than a simple task.
Lawrence continued, looking between Yurio and Hans. "We'll take Kingoro with us."
Yurio stopped smiling for a moment, then burst out laughing sarcastically. "Kingoro? That weakling? Do you really think he's ready for this?"
"Stop underestimating him," Lawrence replied coldly. "He'll be with us. This is his chance to prove himself. If he wants to lead the family one day, he must be tested."
But Yurio wasn't in a good mood. He exploded in sudden anger, his eyes flashing with provocation: "Why do you keep saying that? Why do you think Kingoro will lead the family someday? He's younger than us and weaker than us! He hasn't done anything so far, and I don't see any reason for that to change! I'm the one who deserves to lead, because I'm the one who drew a sword of rank A at the age of eight!"
Lawrence responded calmly, but his tone carried a depth of wisdom: "That's just a possibility, Yurio. Not everything in life is determined by physical strength alone. There's no guarantee that you'll be the only heir. In the future, Kingoro could be the one holding the sword that determines the family's fate. But I can't place him in that role until he's tested. Strength is about more than just the power of the sword."
Yurio remained angry, answering with a provocative tone: "But I won't let that space be taken easily! If you want to test Kingoro, you need to know that I'll be at the forefront. I want to prove I'm the one who deserves to lead the family."
Lawrence met Yurio's gaze with intense eyes: "Don't be too proud of your strength, my son. There are many powerful individuals in the kingdom who have developed their swords and powers to levels of A and S. In our kingdom, the leaders of our armies possess swords that reach A and B levels."
Yurio replied slowly, a glint in his eyes: "I'm not arrogant, but I know my strength well. I'll grow stronger, and soon I'll raise my sword to rank S."
But Lawrence's tone remained firm, "I don't deny your strength, my son. But you must remember that strength alone is not enough. There are other balances you must be prepared for."
The scene shifted back to Kingoro, who stood alone in the training grounds, looking at the setting sun. His body ached, and his magical energy was nearly exhausted, but inside him, something else stirred. An unyielding determination to push beyond his limits.
Tomorrow, he would continue. He would show everyone his strength.